Machine-readable features for objects

• US 8,181,884 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARSHALL, CHRISTLE I
• Application Number:
  US11/847,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20080121728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 235487-495
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/382 absorbing or reflecting infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/387 absorbing or reflecting ultraviolet light

Abstract

The present invention provides machine-readable features for objects, both physical and electronic. One claim recites an object including a substrate and a machine-readable code provided on the substrate, the object further includes a material deposited on or incorporated in the substrate, where the material is alterable to change the machine-readable code. Another claim recites a method including: obtaining an object including a machine-readable code; reading the machine-readable code; and changing the machine-readable code in response to said act of reading. Of course, other claims are provided as well.

Claims

1. A physical object comprising:

a substrate; and

a first material deposited on or incorporated in the substrate; and

a second material deposited on or incorporated in the substrate,

wherein the first material and the second material, together, encode a plural-bit machine-readable signal, and wherein the first material and the second material are configured such that the first material and the second material are not machine-readable from a first angle of observation and the first material and the second material are machine-readable from a second angle of observation.

2. The physical object of claim 1, wherein the second material is photosensitive and alters with predetermined light excitation.

3. The physical object of claim 2, wherein the second material changes at least one of color or color contrast when excited by the predetermined light.

4. The physical object of claim 3, wherein the predetermined light comprises at least one of ultraviolet or infrared.

5. The physical object of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable signal comprises digital watermarking.

6. The physical object of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises at least one of an identification document, check, product packaging, label or banknote.

7. The physical object of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable signal is encoded using line continuity modulation.

8. The physical object of claim 7, wherein line continuity modulation comprises varying the continuity of lines or the continuity of graphics.

9. The physical object of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises an optically variable ink.

10. The physical object of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a fluorescing ink and the second material comprises an optically variable ink, and wherein a first portion of the machine-readable signal is encoded in the first material, and a second portion of the machine-readable signal is encoded in the second material.

11. The physical object of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the machine-readable signal comprises a public signal and the second portion of the machine-readable signal comprises a private signal.